iOS 26 is full of new features, but one that many users might appreciate is going unnoticed. Thanks to a new setting added in iOS 26, you can finally prevent audio from AirPods from being automatically hijacked by other Bluetooth speakers, including your car speakers.
“Keep Audio with Headphones” lets you control your iPhone audio stream
If you use AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones, you’ve probably experienced a surprise around other Bluetooth speakers.
Without any action on your part, another Bluetooth speaker hijacks your iPhone’s audio stream, suddenly blasting whatever you were listening to through the AirPods.
For me, this has been particularly a problem with the onboard speakers. But luckily, iOS 26 has a solution.
Although it is disabled by default, there is finally an option to prevent this auto-switching Bluetooth behavior.
On your iPhone running iOS 26, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General
- Tap “AirPlay & Continuity”
- Next, enable “Keep audio with headphones”
Here’s Apple’s description of what this will do:
When using AirPods or other wireless headphones, keep audio playing through the headphones when other devices like speakers or cars connect to iPhone.
This is a simple solution to a problem that has existed for many years.
While some users will undoubtedly prefer the existing behavior (so the new setting is disabled by default), I think many others will be happy to see it changed.
Why now? Perhaps Apple is offering this new option as a way to complement CarPlay’s new auto-switching support.
Whatever the reason, “Keep Audio Through Headphones” is a great option.
Similar to some other settings in the “AirPlay & Continuity” screen, it gives you the power to choose how your iPhone responds (or not) to nearby devices like your car, Mac, HomePod, and, of course, Bluetooth speakers with buggy on/off features.
Will you enable the new “Keep audio with headphones” setting for your AirPods in iOS 26? Let us know in the comments.
